capefiddle - Posted - 03/31/2025:  05:50:36

I’ll soon be on a road trip for 3 weeks exploring around the Virginia-North Carolina areas. I’ll be traveling in my car and pulling my teardrop trailer(which has a roof fan). I’m concerned where to keep the instrument and how to protect it from humidity changes and the possible heat in a hot car. I can put the instrument in the trailer with the fan on. I’ve also thought about those Boveda humidity control packs. I’m asking for any other tips that might be of help. Thanks!
John

The Violin Beautiful - Posted - 03/31/2025:  06:34:44

The simplest answer is to treat the violin as you would a child in your car—don’t leave it unattended or in conditions that would be intemperate.

A humidifier in the case or instrument will help to mitigate dryness somewhat, but cars and trailers can get extremely hot on sunny day, and the high temperature and rapid swing from the climate inside when you’re driving to where it ends up is enough to do major damage. Cases can bake instruments if they are in sunlight even on relatively mild days. Black cases that have a rubber seal around them to repel moisture are notorious for heating up ridiculously quickly in the sun.

If you can carry the instrument with you safely, it’s better to do it. If you need to store it, keep the car or trailer in as much shade as you can and avoid extremes in humidity if you can.

Violin shops generally will not cover any damage caused to violins by warranty if they’ve been left in vehicles. The damage can be severe and it takes only a short span of time for it to occur.

UsuallyPickin - Posted - 03/31/2025:  06:37:28

Just a good hard case and a thermometer to keep track. I drive a Toyota Tacoma with an extended cab, so my "friends" sit behind the seat. As I recall wood glue starts to separate at 140'f. Rule of thumb is if you are uncomfortable your instruments will be too. Travel safe and have a grand adventure. R/

ChickenMan - Posted - 03/31/2025:  11:03:53

I travel 14 hrs one way, also pulling a teardrop. I store the fiddles in the vehicle while driving and in the trailer wrapped in a blanket when I'm out and about. Open the windows (you'll need to slightly for the fan to work best) and/or run the fan. As Rich said, heat is going to be your real enemy. Humidity is much less of a concern, at least to me. I've never had an issue in the summer because there was too much humidity, and the conditions have often been essentially 100% humidity plenty of times playing (under a tarp while it rains full on buckets, both in 80 degrees and 50 degrees). The greater issue is dryness - Colorado mountains, desserts, or heating the home in winter would be a concern for me. Traveling the Blue Ridge/Appalachian mountais, not so much.

capefiddle - Posted - 03/31/2025:  11:14:38

Thanks all for your thoughts. I did order the Boveda product. Will see how that works. I think when I'm in the car, if it's hot out, I'll most likely have the AC on or at least the windows open. It's just when I'm out and about and where to leave the instrument then if it's hot out. I'll probably put it in the trailer. With the fan on and the windows (and vents) open it does stay pretty cool in the cabin. I'm just pretty hesitant to leave it in the car.
John

Erockin - Posted - 03/31/2025:  11:47:13

I bought a nice case. This response will come back to haunt me but, I've pushed all of my expensive instruments to the fullest limits. That being extreme cold, and extreme heat. Some instances are unavoidable. Ex. Extreme July Festival in a field...lol. It's not uncommon for me to take my instrument everywhere with me. Including into a restaurant. Good luck and have fun!

Side note. My Fiberglass Case for Martin is white. Black cases attract heat so they say

wrench13 - Posted - 03/31/2025:  12:48:41

As someone who has had a fiddle literally come 100% apart due to heat, dont leave it in the trunk! Unless you want to learn how to reassemble a violin!

NCnotes - Posted - 03/31/2025:  14:05:46

Have never left mine in a hot car...if I can't park in deep shade, I just tote it around with me.
Like, Costco made me check it at the door and a guard kept it for me, but that was OK...

capefiddle - Posted - 04/03/2025:  07:16:05

quote:

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Originally posted by ChickenMan

I travel 14 hrs one way, also pulling a teardrop. I store the fiddles in the vehicle while driving and in the trailer wrapped in a blanket when I'm out and about. Open the windows (you'll need to slightly for the fan to work best) .......

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Billy, when you say when you store the fiddles in your teardrop trailer you "wrap them in a blanket".... are the instruments out of the case (and your wrap them) or are they in their case?  And is this for protection against temperature related issues or to kind of hide them?

Thanks.

John

TuneWeaver - Posted - 04/03/2025:  16:50:40

...like Billy says.. A blanket protects from both humidity and heat...

RinconMtnErnie - Posted - 04/04/2025:  08:15:54

Simple transport by car is easy. Keep it in the climate-controlled car whenever possible and take it inside for longer excursions like eating in a restaurant. I put my car key fob in a case pocket or lash it to the case with a cord so I don't accidentally forget it. (I've left other things in restaurants like hats.) I travel regularly in temperatures above 110 F / 43 C in the summer without a problem. When it gets really hot, you have to worry about hot spots even inside an air-conditioned car from solar radiation.

Where things get more difficult is having to leave an instrument in a vehicle for extended periods. For example, if you're going on a strenuous hike then you aren't going to be carrying a fiddle around with you. In those situations I take instruments that are not sensitive like solid-body electrics that I play unamplified or some travel fiddles. That works for evening practice / entertainment. But it doesn't work if you also need to play with others.

I have a large marine cooler that I've considered hauling around to store a travel fiddle during the day in that situation. Only if it's not going to be super hot. But I've never felt that was necessary.

I've also considered getting a carbon fiber instrument. Those will take more of a beating. But the one time I tried one I wasn't wild about the tone. And I don't have tons of room to store it. So I just make do with what I have already.

DougD - Posted - 04/04/2025:  08:58:44

capefiddle - Remember you're going to be traveling in the mountain Upper South in the early Spring, not Arizona or Mississippi in August. But as you probably already know, the weather around here can be changeable. Right now we're in the 80's, but by next week the overnight lows will be back in the 20's with a possibility of snow. And it varies by location. Wednesday it was in the mid 70's here in Brstol, bright and breezy, but in Boone, NC it was barely 50, with fog, drizzle and rain. So you have to pay attention to the situation. Also, if you park in the shade, remember it may move during the day with the sun.
As others have said, when you're traveling keeping your fiddle in the vehicle (out of direct sunlight) should be fine. I would also take it with me whenever possible, but don't forget it. Ernie's idea about the key fob seems good.
I don't know what kind of vehicle you have, but if you're going to leave it, it needs to be out of sight for security as well as heat, which probably means your camper if it locks securely. The case is your first defense - I'm sure Billy meant to wrap the case, not just the instrument. A space blanket can help, along with a quilt or even a moving blanket - we keep a couple of those in our vehicle. The space blanket should probably be the outer layer, but it might attract attention if its visible.
One other thing. The old violin repairman I bought my first fiddle from suggested I wrap it in a silk scarf inside the case because it would keep the finish shiny, so I have a cheap Chinese scarf in each case. But silk is also a very good insulator, so that probably helps a bit too. (Photo attached)
I don't know where you're planning to visit, but I thought I'd mention that US Highway 58 between Damascus and Konnarock VA (a section of the "Crooked Road") was severely damaged by Helene and is still closed. I mention it because you can drive to the top of Whitetop, and get a great view of the high peaks area in Virginia. There was also a nice easy bike trip down the Creeper Trail from Whitetop to Damascus, but the trail was also devastated by the hurricane, and they can't even begin to think about rebuilding it until the highway is repaired.
Have a safe trip.

Becker patent shoulder rest

 

DougD - Posted - 04/04/2025:  09:43:38

I forgot to mention that if you're going to carry your instrument around a shoulder strap is very handy. Some cases can also accommodate backpack type straps. Always looks a little weird to me, but it keeps your hands free.
Just saw the TV weather - we're setting record highs this week, but next week highs will only be in the 50's!

capefiddle - Posted - 04/05/2025:  05:57:55

Thanks for the thoughts, Doug and Ernie.
And thanks, Doug, about the heads up regarding the possibility of Crooked Road closures. Our trip does include starting at the Ralph Stanley Museum and heading down towards the Carter Family Fold (and a stop at Merelfest) and then up to Floyd. I think we'll have to assess our travels as we get into the area... but thanks again. Side note: I did just get a new case and one with a double shoulder strap for carrying (and taking on my bike with me). Got a black one.... but now kind of sorry I didn't think about getting white for its sun repelling feature.
John

ChickenMan - Posted - 04/05/2025:  22:09:03

The fiddles are in their cases and the blankets are just another layer of insulation from the temperature. Shade is your friend, of course.

wrench13 - Posted - 04/06/2025:  07:09:11

Last time I checked fiddles dont generate heat or get colder by themselves. That means they take on the temperature of the ambient environment. Wrapping a fiddle in a blanket fools thieves but you cant fool the laws of thermodynamics. Eventually the blanket wrapped item will be the same temperature as its surroundings.

ChickenMan - Posted - 04/06/2025:  21:42:42

Eventually. It still works as insulation against the heat compared to no insulation. Has nothing to do with the fiddle generating heat.